Machine for molding glass pieces



May 2, 1933. o. R. STEPHEN 1907,410

MACHINE FOR MOLDNG GLASS PIECES Nv-:NTOR

Oscav R. Steph n AT Tomi EY May 2, 1933. o. R. STEPHEN MACHINE FOR MOLDING GLASS PIECES Filed March 25, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 \NVENTOR OscarRStephen,

ATTORNEY May 2, 1933. o. R. STEPHEN MACHINE FOR MOLDING GLASS PIECES Filed March 26, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 \NVENTOR Osca R. 't vhem ATTORNEY May 2, 1933.

O. R. STEPHEN MACHINEFOR MOLDING GLASS PIEGES 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 26,

NVENTOF Osccw RSte hen., 7 BY ATTORNEY May 2, 1933. o. R. STEPHEN MACHINE FOR MOLDING GLASS PIECES 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 25,

INVE N 'ron ose cm R. Sie ph eT\ ATTORNEY Patentecl May 2, 1933 OFFICE OSCAR REGINALD STEPHEN, OF BEIEBLYI-ILL, ENGLAND M.A.CHI1\TE FOR MOLDING GLASS PIEGES .Application filed March 26, 1930, Serial No. 139,069, and in Great Britain March 28, 1929.

The invention provides a machine tor molding fiat glass pieces having a plurality of obliquely directed sockets or holes through its thickness. The machine has a ?novel core comprising a plurality of obliquely directed rigid pegs whose ends' are used to form the sockets or holes and all of which are simultaneously withdrawn from the molding cavity by a movement of the whole 0 core parallel with .the obliquity of the pegs after molding pressure has been applied and before the molding cavity is opened for the removal of the molded sheet or article.

The constructional features of the machine a in its desirable :form are as follows. The socket or hole forming pegs are carried by a pressure block arranged above a molding space provided by the table, said pressure block being adapted to` be applied to the lower end of the plunger of the press to descend and rise with the plunger, the pegs being fixed to an obliquely slidable member operated from a lever in combination with a spring to project and withdraw the pegs 5 in relation to the underside of the pressure block which forms the upper surface ofthe molcling cavity. In another example the socket :Eorming pegs are appled to the table which forms the bottom of the mold and Q abovethe table a pressure plate operates to press the molten glass against the table and around the pegs.

The machine is mainly designed for' the production of a glass piece to be used as a lens of a motor-vehicle lamp, the socketsor holes being directed downwardly to cause objectionable dazzling light rays to pass downwardly instead of forwardly or up- 0 wardly or sideways.

mold and pressure block.

Two examples of machines and a glass piece suitable as a lens are represented in the accompanying sheets of drawings.

Fig. l is a vertical section through the Fig. 4 is a plan of Fig. 3.

the pressure Fig, 5 is a vertical section of the pressure block separately.

Fig. 6 is a plan of the table and the side members of the molding cavity.

F ig. 7 is a plan of a sleeve-like housing 7 for the slidable member.

Fig. 8 is a verticalsection ofFi'g. 7.

Fig. 9 is a section of the glass piece.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section of another form of machine.

Figs. l to 8 represent one example of machine constructed in accordance with thejn Vention, Fig.,9 the lens product, and Fig. 10 the other example of machine.

With specific reference to Figs. 1 to 8, a fiat horizontal table a forms the bottom of the mold cavity, w, of which the sides are'formed by horizontal plate-like segments, 0,' and, d, hinged to each other and to the table at e and provided with handles 62, to open and close said segmente, and with a hinged catch 63 to hold said segments closed. The molding cavity is larger than the actual size of the lens y, Fig. 9, to be produced, and is formed by the table a, the segmente c and (Z 'and the underside of apressure block to be herenafter described, and when the article is removed the surplus glass from'the boundary is severed. The pressure block comprises a rigid hollow'casting f adapted to be Secured at its upper end f2 to the lower end g of the plunger of a hand or power press and to descend and rise vertically with the plunger, the underside 3 of' this block being of such shape and size asto form a complementary part of the cavity w of the mold and to leave a continuous space between it and the bottom and side se ments for shaping the flat glass sheet y, Fig. 9, when the mold is closed. Numerous pegs, h, to form the corresponding sockets 2 2 in the glass sheet y, eXtend through' holes f& in the bottom wall f of the pressure block f, and are rigidly carried at their upper ends by a slidable body member 2', the lower end of said pegs normally projecting from the underface of the pressure block, as shown, by the pressure of the coiled spring j Operating in compression. v The slidable member z' is efliciently mounted and guided at 22 within a sleeve-like housing Zdeta'chably and 2'2 of a bore of the slidable member, and' at' its other end against a bearer block m which is held against the spring end by an adjustable screwJ-pin a carried by a cap 0 rigidly but detachably applied to the upper end of the housing, Z, so that the pressure of the spring may be adjusted The 'pegs h are detachably secured to an under-plate g rigidly Secured to the under-surface of the slidable member e'. y

. Rack teeth 2'3 are provided upon the slidable member in mesh with the teeth of a pinion 7* mounted fast upon a shaft 9'2 extending horizontally through the pressure block and finding suitable bearin'gs therein. A lever s is fitted to the end of the shaft outside of the pressure block for hand actuation to rock the shaft and to move the slidable memberz' in the reverse direction to the action of the spring y', this movement drawing pegs h into the bottom wall f of the pressure block f against the counter pressure of the spring j. i

It will be understood that the pegs h are numerous, that is to say, any number dependentupon the article to be produced, a few only being shown in Fig. 2, whereas at the center ofeach of the small crossed lines,

. Fig. 2, a 'similar peg is provided, all rigidly carried by the plate g which normally abuts againstthe`-upper surface of the bottom wall f of the pressure block under the' action of the spring y'. i

y 7 The operation of the machine is as follows:` The required amount of liquid glass is introduced into the molding space :a

formed by the table a and the side segments c and (l, the latter being previously closed, and then, with the pressure block retracted as in Figure 1 the plunger of the press is moved downwardly to force the lower face of the pressure block against the liquid glass and the lower ends of the pegs h are caused to penetrate into said liquid glass 'and mold the plate and the sockets therein, the descent of'the pressure block pressing the sheet into the size', shape and thickness required, namely, the lens, Fig. 9.' The pressure* exerted by the plunger is instantly sufiicient, 'and while it is maintained and while the mold is closed,the lever s is hand-op- 'erated to withdraw the pegs from the holes 'or sockets 3 2 which they have shaped in the glass sheet y, after which, and while the pegs are still wthdrawn, the plunger g is bodily lifted to lift the pressure block f clear of the molding space `which can then be fully opened and the molded glass sheet removed. The operation can then be repeated, a resultant article being the lens represented by Fig. 9, With oblique sockets formed therein and with one face of the lens imperforate.

In Fig. 10, the same letters of reference are used where possible to indicate corresponding parts.

a The 'oblique pegs h eXtend through apertures in a table a, and are carried by the slidable member, i, eiiiciently guided in an oblique housing Z, but said slidable member is positively operated by screw action to project and withdraw the pegs, the slidable member having a screwed sleeve t secured to its under `side with which sleeve the one end 102 of a traversing screw u engages, said screw having bearings in a lug u fixed to the under frame of the machine and being revolved by, the handle u3. A screw-operated pressure plate w is disposed above the table a and the screw is carried by a yoke 102 which can Swing aside on the bolt 'w3 by which it is Secured to the bed, carrying the pressure plate .w with.

it to pernit the removal of the molded plate.

In this form of the invention the pegs h are first projected above the upper surface of the table, the pressure plate w being swung aside, and thenthe molten glass is placed on the table, and is rolled by a suitable roller over the pegs, after which the pressure plate -w .is caused by rotation of the handle w-t to press the molten glass to the desired thickness and to closely surround the pegs, after which the pegs are .first quickly withdrawn by unscrewing the. screw 'w2 and then the pressure on the pressure plate w' is relieved and the pressure plate w is swung asde so thatthe molded 'plate can be removed from the table a. If holes through the plate instead of sockets are required thebottoms of the sockets may be removed or the pegs h be arranged to project so as to mold holes.

Having nowvdescribed my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is I i 1. A machine of the class described ;comprising a table, means ,thereon providing a cavity and operable for opening and closing the cavity, a pressure block novable toward and away from the cavityto cooperate therewith, a sleeve member on the pressure block, an obliquely movable core guided by said sleeve 'member toward and away from the pressure block embodying a number of obliquely disposed pegs, a spring device to normally' urge said die toward and said pegs into the cavity, and lever and rack means between the pressure block and die for moving the die in the oppositedirection and withdrawing the pegs.

iio

2.' A machine of the class described comprising a table adapted to receive material fol' moldng, a hollow pressure block movable toward and away from the zone of moldng provided With a Wall having oblque openngs, a die member within the block normally restng on said wall having pegs disposed in said openngs and of a length to projeot beyond the wall, a oylinder member With which the die is slidably nterfitted dsposed at the angle of said pegs and arra-nged above said wall, spring means urgng the die into engagement With said Wall, and means on the pressure block operable to move the die ndependently of movement of the pressure block.

In testmonywhereof I have aflxed my signature.

OSCAR REGINALD STEPHEN. 

